UEFA has cautioned the UK government that England could face exclusion from the Euro 2028 tournament, which they are co-hosting, if Prime Minister Keir Starmer proceeds with plans for a men’s football regulator, British media reported on Saturday.
In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, acquired by The Times and the BBC, UEFA’s General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis emphasised the need for “no government interference in the running of football.” Theodoridis expressed concerns about the plans detailed in the King’s Speech, which would grant the new regulator authority over clubs in England’s top five leagues, stating that the sport’s independence is a “fundamental requirement.”
“One particular area of concern stems from one of UEFA’s fundamental requirements, which is that there should be no government interference in the running of football,” Theodoridis wrote.
“We have specific rules that guard against this in order to guarantee the autonomy of sport and fairness of sporting competition; the ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition.”
Last year, the previous government had announced intentions to appoint a regulator, citing the need to protect clubs from financial mismanagement and prevent wealthy teams from forming breakaway leagues. Starmer’s government included the commitment to a regulator in the Labour Party manifesto after taking office in July.
Theodoridis informed Nandy that UEFA is “concerned about the potential for scope creep within the IFR (Independent Football Regulator).”
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport stated, “The Football Governance Bill will establish a new Independent Football Regulator that will put fans back at the heart of the game and tackle fundamental governance problems to ensure that English football is sustainable for the benefit of the clubs’ communities going forward.”
